The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has distributed $25 million in funding to all 57 counties and New York City to help bring youth into the workforce, acquire skills that can help them improve in school, and propel them to greater educational and career achievements.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program offers a great opportunity for employment to teenagers and young adults in underserved communities across New York State,” said Governor Cuomo. “Introducing youth to their first job means they will gain valuable skills and experience that can help them achieve success in the future.”

Youth ages 14 to 20, whose families are recipients of public assistance, or have a family income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $38,180 for a family of three, are eligible.

The funding can be used to subsidize wages, to support education and training activities, counseling and employment-related services, such as transportation to and from work or training. Youth interested in participating can contact theirlocal department of social services.

OTDA Acting Commissioner Kristin M. Proud said: “Jobs are crucial to help teach teens responsibility, good work habits, budgeting and how to cooperatively accomplish goals in a business setting. Governor Cuomo enthusiastically supports the Summer Youth Employment Program because every year it gives employment opportunities and skills to teens who seek a brighter future.”

16 year old Onyx Wright, a student at Brewster High School has participated in the program the last two years. She described her experiences as, “Amazing! I have loved both summers. I have worked in a library and also for Head Start. I not only had fun, but it gives a student the push he or she needs to really get going and to learn people skills and responsibility.”

Onyx’ father Richard Wright said, “It gives the young people a healthy respect for what it is like to earn money and to be responsible for it.”

Robbie Harris, a senior at Copenhagen High School who got a job last summer working on a landscaping crew in Lewis County, said: “The Summer Youth Employment Program helped me in a few different ways. It gave me money throughout the summer, it helped me make a few more friends, and it also gave me more experience working which I'll be able to use after high school.”

A list of funding awards is below:

Region/County

Amount

Capital Region

Albany

$374,178

Columbia

$51,356

Greene

$67,713

Rensselaer

$184,887

Saratoga

$146,959

Schenectady

$146,924

Warren

$69,959

Washington

$62,452

Central New York

Cayuga

$100,433

Cortland

$110,305

Madison

$113,260

Onondaga

$603,322

Oswego

$228,307

Finger Lakes

Genesee

$67,136

Livingston

$116,535

Monroe

$871,780

Ontario

$98,704

Orleans

$58,460

Seneca

$49,531

Wayne

$93,174

Wyoming

$53,107

Yates

$41,510

Long Island

Nassau

$629,949

Suffolk

$852,582

Mid-Hudson

Dutchess

$259,635

Orange

$363,706

Putnam

$32,220

Rockland

$227,375

Sullivan

$111,595

Ulster

$192,234

Westchester

$649,283

Mohawk Valley

Fulton

$81,762

Herkimer

$87,667

Montgomery

$69,035

Oneida

$279,133

Otsego

$139,441

Schoharie

$56,399

New York City

$13,467,175

North Country

Clinton

$144,229

Essex

$47,526

Franklin

$85,271

Hamilton

$6,119

Jefferson

$201,509

Lewis

$46,736

St. Lawrence

$263,133

Southern Tier

Broome

$303,227

Chemung

$129,356

Chenango

$79,024

Schuyler

$30,175

Steuben

$147,255

Tioga

$58,315

Tompkins

$345,797

Western New York

Allegany

$126,045

Cattaraugus

$143,390

Chautauqua

$229,254

Delaware

$70,283

Erie

$1,073,977

Niagara

$260,196

In 2012 the following number of youth participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program: